Charles branwhite



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BRANWHITE, OF WILLIAMSBURGH, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES KNOX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EAT-RACK FOR CIGARS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,034, dated April 24, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs BRANWHITE, of Williamsburgh, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hat-Rack for Cigars, Sac.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a Jfull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot this specification, in which- Figure l, represents a sectional perspective view of a hat, showing the racks, and their arrangement in the hat. Fig. 2 is a section of one of the racks, showing the elastic loops and the manner of securing them to the frame, and showing also the connection of the frame at the joint, so as to render it adjustable, or extensible.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention consists in applying to the inside of a hat, a rack for holding cigars, &c., which is to be constructed of hoops of reed, whalebone, lor other like substance, combining elasticity and stiffness, to which is applied a strip or strips of india-rubber, which is attached to the hoops at suitable intervals by metal clasps, forming loops which on account of their elastic properties will receive and hold cigars or the like. The hoops are to be attached at their joints in such a way that they may be contracted or extended for fitting hats of any size, as will be hereinafter described and represented.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand my invention, I will proceed to describe the same, with reference to the annexed drawings.

In said drawings, A represents an ordinary gentlemans hat of the high crown style within which is placed two hoops B, B, that are made of any material combining flexibility and stiffness in a suitable manner, such as reed, whalebone, or fiat steel wire covered in a neat manner. These hoops, one or more of them may be used in a hat, should be attached together at their ends by metal slides a, which will allow of the hoops being contracted or extended, so as to fit hats of any sized crown, the clasp should hold the two ends together rigidly, and prevent them from casually slipping while in the hat. To these hoops B, B, is attached a thin strip, or strips C, of india. rubber which is secured to the inside of the hoop by metal clasps el, d, as shown clearly by Fig. 2, that are placed at short intervals around the hoop. These form loops of the india rubber strip C, which :may be stretched suticiently to admit the ends of cigars, and then when relieved, the cigars will be held firmly to the hoop B, within the hat.

The natural convexity of the sides of the crown will keep the upper hoop in place, while the sweat lining E, will keep the lower hoop in place within the hat.

The advantage of the elastic loops is, that they will contract on the cigar and hold it tightly in place, cigars of any size, while an elastic cord would not answer this end, and could not be used without drawing the strings tight, and tying them, which in a hat, would be a very unhandy and inconvenient operation.

The hoops B being made extensible, they may be kept ready made, with their elastic loops attached to them, and applied to hats at the option ot the purchaser, in a tew minutes without injury to the hat, or materially increasing its weight or cost.

The elastic bands or strips C, extend across the top of the hat and hold the cigars against the crown as represented in Fig. l.

Vith a hat furnished in the manner above described with an elastic cigar rack, a person may safely carry a number of cigars about with him, without injuring them in any way and without the trouble and inconvenience of any extra luggage in his pockets.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The within described cigar rack for hats, constructed and applied in the manner, substantially as described.

CHARLES BRANVVHITE.

Witnesses B. vGrRoUsE, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

